Oregon Dry Cleaners Association

Summer is just about over; the kids should be heading back to school shortly, employee vacations are just about over and the drycleaners are looking forward to those winter wools as opposed to the cottons and linens of summer.

It has been a very busy summer.  The California Air Resources Board met to hear staff reports regarding proposed changes in the rules regarding perc and the environmental community was out in force pushing for a complete phase out of perc and of course they aren’t real happy with hydrocarbon or silicone based solvents either.  On the Federal level EPA also held hearings and came out with rules, which basically follow the rules we here in Oregon have had since 1994.  No transfer units, 4th generation or better equipment, leak detection etc. Of course as we mentioned previously, Oregon’s Air Toxics Scientific Advisory Committee, with input from ODCA and others revised Perc's ambient air benchmark to reflect its non- cancer effects and removes perc from its list of air toxics that should be regulated as a human carcinogen".  That was good news but we drycleaners are receiving so many mixed messages that it is hard to decide what we should do to best serve our customers and protect our way of life.

ODCA with NCA (National Cleaners Association) put on a couple of really good seminars a couple of weeks ago..  Ann Hargrove told us how to wet clean like a pro what equipment you need, chemicals to use, how to sort, test etc. and Alan Spielvogel gave us practical ideas to help our counter personnel develop new confidence and skills for handling garments and customers. If you weren’t there you really missed out.  We had over 72 people attend at Medford, Eugene, and Portland.  They hinted they could come back for maybe a spotting, pressing, or marketing seminar next year.  What would you like to see?

Brian Olson, and his convention committee, have just about wrapped it all up.  The flyers should be hitting your door next week.  Be sure to mark the dates….October 20-22 at Spirit Mountain.  We have rooms set aside but you need to make your reservations early.  We have great speakers lined up and Nora Nealis from NCA has agreed to return and speak on building Company Spirit.

ODCA is here serving you no matter how large or small your facility is or what kind of solvent you are using.  We need our members to step up and get involved by either serving on the board or one of our standing committees.  The nominating committee will be gearing up to recruit the best people to serve and I hope you will be one of them!  Knowing you are helping and learning more about your industry, networking with like- minded business people or just having fun, JOIN US.

When I said in the last issue of this newsletter how excited I was about this year’s location for convention, I didn’t realize I would be even more excited about this year’s guests.  We have some incredible speakers coming your way!

Have you ever driven up to your store one morning to find your windows broken out?  Maybe that expensive gown you cleaned is missing.  Or maybe a major piece of equipment fizzles out on you.  These things happen.  They’ve happened to me.  What to do?  That is the big question and it brought me to Steve LaCesa of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association.  Steve has an incredible presentation on “Disaster Planning”.  Did you know that as small businesses most of us just aren’t profitable enough to our insurance agents for them to monitor and keep us up to par with our coverage needs?  Steve will show us how to put programs in place to ensure we have adequate protection before problems arise.

Have you heard of Associated Oregon Industries?   While the ODCA is busy looking after the interests of our industry, namely environmental regulations and education for its members, AOI deals with a larger picture.  They speak up for all business in the legislature and beyond.  Plus they have great benefits for their members.  They are sending one of their lobbyists and a vice president of marketing to tell us all about it.  You’ll also want to check out their booth for some really useful information.

So what’s going on in the dry cleaner program at DEQ?  After years of research, insurance policies have finally been found and they could be worth millions.  Dick Dezeeuw will fill us in on this and so much more. 

Well, you loved her last year. You said, “Please bring her back!” and that’s what we are doing.  As Claire mentioned in her column, Nora Nealis returns. How appropriate that she should show us how to build “Company Spirit” while we are at Spirit Mountain.  Nora will also speak Saturday night about the ODCA’s work to help influence the Air Toxics Scientific Committee’s decision on perc and its nationwide significance. That’s right, nationwide significance.

Our convention this year is October 20-22 at Spirit Mountain Casino and next week you will be receiving your Convention Packet in the mail.  Notice we have made some changes to our usual routine, changes you requested. We hope you like them.  So come see your friends, meet new ones and gain a lot of knowledge in the process.  Yes, you will drive home exhausted on Sunday, but I guarantee Monday morning, when you unlock the front door of your shop, you will be re-energized.

See you in October!